Rubin Kazan’s Sporting Director Oleg Yarovinsky has confirmed Celtic have made contact over a possible transfer of Filip Uremovic, as per The Daily Record.

Uremovic, who is the captain at the Russian club, has been a rumoured target for the Hoops, as well as a number of other clubs.

However, Rubin’s sporting director has gone on record in an attempt to put an end to the speculation surrounding his club’s centre-back.

Praising the 23-year-old, he said:

I am very confident he is going to be a top defender one day at a very big club and it is important for him to make the right move eventually.

Yarovinsky went on to rule out the possibility of an imminent sale:

But for now. Filip is not for sale.’

Uremovic, now a Croatian international following his debut last week against France, has seen a rapid rise in his stock since signing for Kazan in 2018 from Slovenian side NK Olimpija Ljubljana.

Now the defender is subject to interest from Celtic and CSKA Moscow, with both clubs holding talks with his current employers according to Uremovic.

Neil Lennon’s continued interest in central defenders following the arrival of Shane Duffy may be a case of due diligence, should the Scottish champions be forced to part ways with star man Kristoffer Ajer in this window.